The normal life was affected in Kashmir valley on Saturday following a shutdown call by separatists to exhibit resentment against the arrest of former Delhi University Professor SAR Geelani and alleged harassment of Kashmiri students in Jawaharlal Nehru University and other educational institutions outside the State.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and public transport was generally off the roads. However, private vehicle were plying normally and attendance in government offices was skeletal.
Geelani was arrested by Delhi Police and sent to judicial remand after he organized a function in Delhi on the third anniversary of Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Delhi's Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013. Police says anti-India and pro-freedom slogans were raised during the event. He has been arrested on sedition charges like three students including JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar.
The separatists in Kashmir allege that Kashmiri students studying in various educational institutions in Delhi are being harassed after these events.
The matter has been taken u by the Governor NN Vohra with the central authorities while mainstream political parties have also expressed apprehensions on the safety of Kashmiri students. The Governor, who is running the affairs of the embattled state since January 8 when the central rule was imposed, took up the matter with Union Home Secretary and the Intelligence Bureau Chief about the issue of complaints of harassment of Kashmiri students pursuing education and careers in Delhi.
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) sent former advisor to Chief Minister Amitabh Mattoo to meet JNU vice chancellor to highlightthe plight of Kashmiri students.
The Delhi administration has set-up a special cell to look into issues faced by Kashmiri students.